Penang locals seem to be more versed in coffee these days. As one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Malaysia, George Town, Penang, has developed into an iconic coffee town due to the availability of both old and modern boutique cafés.
From small, independently owned cafes to award-winning baristas who create magic with their hands, each spot will undoubtedly appeal to your coffee tastes.
Checkout our picks for the best coffee spots around George Town, Penang, the next time you’re in town.
1. Ome by Spacebar Coffee
Jo and Shean of Spacebar have been shaking the KL coffee market with pop-up brewing before seizing an opportunity in Georgetown to build their first permanent café. This café, tucked between a maze of heritage homes, specialises in eccentric coffee beans.
Light and medium-roasted beans are supplied on a rotating basis from domestic and foreign roasters. If you’re unfamiliar with the many sorts of beans and their tastes, the expert baristas here are friendly enough to provide recommendations.
Address: 1, Lorong Toh Aka, George Town, 10100 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Operating Hours: Sunday to Wednesday, 7.30am-5pm. Closed on Thursday & Friday.
Contact Details: 019-690 8259
2. Lunabar Coffee
Locals love this coffee shop as it feels like a cosy house, with modest furniture, little bookcases, quirky knick-knacks and souvenirs, and snippets of flower pots in every corner. The cafe’s menu features delicious beverages from freshly roasted beans—from lattes to Coffee Lemonade. If you can’t decide, we suggest you sample their signature ”Hand-drip coffee”.
Address: 10d, Jalan Clove Hall, George Town, 10050 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Operating Hours: Thursday to Monday, 11am-5pm. Closed on Tuesday & Wednesday.
Contact Details: 010-932 2810
3. The Alley, Stewart Lane
As tourists, you might think The Alley is just another building with a bland exterior. But locals know the old-school shop lot has an oldie classic story. Search for a sign that signals ”Kedai Gaharu Keat Seang” and it will lead you to this iconic shoebox-sized cafe.
Their brews and an army of skilled baristas—who won second place in the Malaysia Brewers Cup 2022—will help you satisfy your coffee craving with their classic ‘’Pour-overs Cold Brew’’, made with single-origins.
Address: 5, Stewart Ln, Georgetown, 10200 George Town, Penang
Operating Hours: Everyday, 10am-6pm
Contact Details: 017-373 4829
4. R Coffee Co.
R Coffee Co. is a modern coffee shop hidden inside The Frame, George Town. The cafe’s spacious design exudes urban minimalism, with a clean, bright atmosphere that lets in plenty of natural light. For their specialty coffees, choose from single-origin beans or in-house blends. Their Espresso has a gratifyingly bitter bite, while their Flat White has just the right mix of creaminess.
Address: 168, Chulia St, Georgetown, 10200 George Town, Penang
Operating Hours: Thursday to Tuesday, 10am-6pm. Closed on Wednesday.
Contact Details: 010-832 8915
5. Forest Cloud Coffee Roasters
This clean, spacious, and light café is a nice place to sample freshly roasted coffee brewed with their in-house mix. Enjoy a cup of their signature Filter Coffee, the ideal choice, before sampling their other roasts. After a while, choose the classic White Coffee. It’s a robust, beautifully brewed coffee that refreshes you. Miyama Matcha Latte and Hojicha Latte are available for non-coffee drinkers.
Address: 132, Jln Penang, George Town, 10000 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Operating Hours: Everyday, 10am-6pm
Contact Details: 016-555 1335
6. The Narrow Marrow
Narrow Marrow is a well-balanced classic cafe that is also visually appealing. The café, which has been running for years, recently relocated to a larger space on Beach Street while continuing to serve its signature home-based coffees, cakes and toddy. Don’t forget to dig in their fan-favourite Tiramisu or Coconut Clitoria Cheesecake.
Address: 312, Lebuh Pantai, George Town, 10300 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Operating Hours: Thursday to Monday, 3m-11pm. Closed on Tuesday & Wednesday.
Contact Details: Instagram
7. Le Petit Four
If you’re a real Penangite or are familiar with the island, you’ve probably heard about Le Petit Four Patisserie. They were previously located on Hutton Lane, but have lately relocated to the busy Lebuh Pantai. This adorable pastry is known for its dark blue exterior and gold cursives on the front. Don’t forget to get one of their handcrafted French pastries to go with your coffee!
Address: 312, Lebuh Pantai, George Town, 10300 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Operating Hours: Friday to Thursday, 9am-6pm. Closed on Tuesday & Wednesday
Contact Details: 04-226 2289